ALEX McLeish has a simple message for Aleksandr Hleb – just be yourself.

The Blues boss said he didn’t think that his stunning transfer window signing was returning to the Premier League with a point to prove.

Although he was part of Barcelona’s treble-winning team of 2009, Hleb struggled for starts and did not feature in the Champions League final win over Manchester United.

Last season he was loaned out to former club Stuttgart to get regular football, his dream move to the Nou Camp having gone decidedly sour.

“I don’t think he’s got anything to prove as such,” McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. “But I would like to believe that any players who come and play in the Premier League and having a reputation as being a world class player, they will have the self-motivation to show the world, show the rest of the Premier League, why they have that status.

“That is the pressure. I’m using that word pressure, it’s maybe not right. But that’s the challenge. To guys like Hleb.

“It will always be the challenge. They’ve got a certain standard and the challenge is to keep producing that.”

McLeish said Hleb’s skill and vision could add much more to Blues’ attacking armoury.

“I feel we could be doing with a bit more creativity. We’ve been saying that since the end of last season.

“James McFadden has kind of normally been the guy everybody would look to as the talisman in that point of view.

“And we have some excellent quality footballers in the team.

“But in terms of that making a difference, which is why I went for people like Moussa Dembele, I believe he can make a difference – Hleb fits the bill.”

There has been plenty of speculation as to Hleb’s likely role in the Blues side.

McLeish would not say. Hleb can perform anywhere in the attacking phases, and central midfielder.

It would not be a surprise if McLeish allowed him to roam free just off the front.

“It would be stupid to pin down a position. We got asked that at a fans forum about McFadden’s best position. You have big grand designs, where you want to play someone, and circumstances get altered, then you have to change his position.

“So I think Hleb’s versatile and he’s like McFadden in that he can play anywhere across the front and even in the midfield areas.”

As another deadline day Jean Beausejour is a winger, McLeish has plenty of options to contend with.

“Will it be a problem? No, through preparation and planning, that will be to get a position for Hleb we feel is more effective.”

Hleb’s loan for the season from Barcelona disappointed Spurs and Liverpool, who both made a pitch, as well as Benfica.

McLeish said: “From the feedback we were getting, he was delighted to come to us. To go back to England, that was his first choice.

“To pip Benfica to get his services was a bit of coup. Portuguese champions, in the Champions League, they had a brilliant season last year, they are a quality side.

“I’m sure Hleb has looked at the players at Birmingham and seen the calibre and quality that these guys have provided the past season.”

As for whether Blues were considering a permanent transfer, McLeish said that they had just concentrated on getting the loan through before the transfer window closed: “We haven’t done that option yet.”